Megapublisher's USPTO filing might be first sign of new competitor for Konami's Karaoke Revolution and Sony's SingStar series.

First it was Guitar Hero. Then came DJ Hero. Recently, Band Hero was rumored. And now, Activision has trademarked what appears to be yet another offshoot of its billion-dollar-plus rhythm franchise. In a filing with the US Patent and Trademark Office, the Santa Monica-based half of megapublisher Activision Blizzard has trademarked the title "Sing Hero."

No word yet on whether or not Bill Murray will reprise his Lost in Translation karaoke act in the game.

Upon approval, the March 5 filing would give Activision the Sing Hero trademark for "computer game software and related instruction manual sold together as a unit; interactive video game programs; computer game cartridges; computer game discs; downloadable computer game software; video game controllers; interactive video game comprised of a cartridge or DVD sold as a unit with a video game controller."

Though no further details about Sing Hero were in the filing, its title implies a karaoke-centric game along the lines of Konami's Karaoke Revolution and Sony's SingStar series. Sales of the former, which was once the rhythm-game genre leader, have dropped in the wake of the mic-equipped Rock Band and Guitar Hero World Tour launches. Though not especially popular in the US, SingStar is a full-on phenomenon in the UK and would give any potential rivals stiff competition.

However, just because Activision trademarks a title doesn't mean an eponymous game has been confirmed. The publisher has also registered the names "Drum Hero," "Keyboard Hero," "Guitar Villain," and "Dum Villain," none of which has become a game in its own right. In 2007, RedOctane cofounder Charles Huang said work on Drum Hero was proceeding apace, though the game has not been heard about since the announcement of Guitar Hero World Tour, which includes drum kit support.